National Republican., 1887-10-24
The Responsibility for the Tobacco Tax
Tho Ivnchhurp I'irgi,lj1u saws,


The tobacco crop of the United States has
paid into the national treasury over s7O),OOO,
600. Ofthis amount aboutsll0, 900, 900 was paid
on the product of Virginia. Such a tax on any
agricultural production as this, we believe,
has seldom been exacted by the most despotic
government, even when reduced to the greatest
straits to raise money for the most urgent
necessities Of the state. And this has been
done at a time when the treasury was overflow
ing with surplus which required all the iu-
genuity of the treasury officials to partially re-
duce.
The position taken by some of the leading
politicians they are unworthy Of the title Of
statesmen) of our country on this subject is an
insult to the common sense of the people. To
state the simple fact that the federal govern
munt taxes a single article Of agriculture to an
amount greater than the gross revenues which
the state collects for all its taxable values
is sufficient TO brand this as one OF the greatest
outrages ever fastened upon any people.
Thechief obstacle to the repeal of this cd ious
tax is that 1t has been dragged into n kind Of
dependent connection with other revenue aud
tariff reform schemes with which 1t has no
connection. If tho advocates of this prop jsi-
ton would sever II from all other reform meas
ures, and, in the interest of large class o
hard working farmers, concentrate their e.
forts for its speedy repeal, there can be N,
doubt that it could be accom- oishe1 at the
next session of Congress-
The comments Of the THginiln on eX'
Speaker Carlisle's conduct are severe bu
deserved, for though the l'irginida doe.
not name Mr.. Carlisle It evidently alluie.
to him when 1t says "the position taken By
some Of the leading politicians ia an insult
to the common senss OF the people,"
Mr. Carlisle, single handed aud Alone de-
feated the repeal Of the tobacco tax last year,
and did 1t by "a usurpation of power with
out parallel in the history OF parliamentary
bodies. A large majority of the members
Of the House had expressed themselves in
favor OF the repeal OF the tax. Several
members were anxious to offer bills for that
purpose, but Mr.. Carlisle, then speaker OF
the House, absolutely refused to recognize
any member who proposed to offer such a
bill.
The Tigipidn knows this, because 1t was
a matter of notoriety at the time. The
Virginia members Of Congress know IT, Mr..
Carlisle has declared that he will only agree
to the repeal Of the tobacco tax on condl-
tion that reduction OF tarlH duties to a
like or greater amount is made at the same
time. In other words, he intends to trade
upon the necessities Of the people of Vir-
ginla to assist in carrying out the free trade
policy of the English Golden Club, OF
which he is a member.
VIII the Tirginidn advise now and uphold
the Democratic members of the llftieth
Congress from Virginia, and other tobacco
growing sections, in refusal to vote for
Mr.. Carlisle for speaker even at the dicta-
tion OF Democratic eaucus9 II he is elected
speaker, he will use all the power OF that
office to prevent the repeal of the tobacco
tax as separate measure, and 1t is fair to
assume that, If this power is not sufficient
to accomplish the object, he tvW do as he
did before, as'Tpthe pOWer necessary.
The Tirgtnian can show its sincerity on
this subject.